Aligning fixture



Sep 1964 L. P. ANDERSON ALIGNING FIXTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 8,1961 Illl INVENTOR. LOUIS P. ANDERSON WILSON, SETTLE 8 CRAIG ATTORNEYSSept. 15, 1964 L. P. ANDERSON 3,143,454

ALIGNING FIXTURE Filed June 8, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4

INVENTOR. LOUIS P. ANDERSON WILSON, SETTLE a CRAIG ATTORNEYS UnitedStates Patent 3,148,454 ALIGNING FIXTURE Louis P. Anderson, 524 FlintRoad, Brighton, Mich. Filed June 8, 1961, Ser. No. 115,730 8 Claims.(Cl. 33185) The present invention relates to an aligning fixture, andmore particularly to a fixture for setting an angularly adjustable headon a cutting machine such as a grinder, lathe, shaper, planar or millingmachine.

Machines such as the above-mentioned have an angularly adjustable head,which may be a work-holding head or a tool-holding head, and which mustbe set for a machining operation to a particular angle. In the past, thehead has been set by laborious and time consuming methods. Variousdevices have been proposed to facilitate the setting of the head, butmost of such devices have limited application and are relativelyexpensive. The present invention provides an aligning fixture which isuniversal in nature in that it may be used on a large variety ofmachines and which is inexpensive and simple to use.

It is an object of the invention to provide an aligning fixture whichmay be utilized on a large variety of cutting machines to rapidly setthe angularly adjustable head of the machine to any desired angle.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a fixture which issimple in construction and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

A further object of the invention is to provide an aligning fixturewhich is readily adjustable to a desired angle and which may be lockedin any desired angular position.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such a fixturewhich may be installed on the adjustable collet provided on most cuttingmachines.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in one embodiment, anaccessory cutting tool which coacts with the aligning fixture tofacilitate dressing of grinding wheels.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following descriptionand appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specification wherein like reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the aligning fixtureof the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 22 ofFIGURE 1 looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view showing a typical arrangement forsetting the aligning fixture 0f FIGURE 1 at the desired angle usingstandard tool room accessories such as surface plate, sine plate, Vblock, test indicator, surface gage, and size blocks;

FIGURE 4 is a view of the aligning fixture of FIGURE 1 showing anaccessory cutting tool mounted thereon;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view of a cutting machine showing the use of thealigning tool of FIGURE 1 in setting the work-head of the machine at thedesired angle; and

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the aligning fixture and cutt ng toolarrangement shown in FIGURE 4 installed on the work-head of a machineand positioned to dress a grinding wheel.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following descriptionand appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specification wherein like reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts in the several views.

Referring to FIGURES 1 and 2, it may be seen that the aligning fixture10 comprises a cylindrical spindle 12 3,148,454 Patented Sept. 15., 1964which extends at substantially right angle from a holder 14. The holder14 comprises a bottom wall 16 having a pair of parallel upstandingspaced apart side walls 18, 20. A longitudinally extending groove 22, 24is provided at the juncture of the side walls 18, 21) with the bottomwall 16. These grooves tend to prevent jamming of a plate 26 which ispivotally mounted between the holder side walls. The plate 26 has a flatupper surface 46 which is utilized in setting the fixture at the desiredangle.

A pair of openings 28 are provided in the side wall 18 of the holder.Each of the openings is countersunk at 30. A pair of internally threadedopenings 32 are provided in the opposite side walls 20 each being inregistry with an opening 28. A screw 34 is inserted through one of theopenings 23 and passes through an opening 36 in the plate 26 intothreading engagement with the registering threaded opening 32 topivotally secure the plate to the holder. The screw 34 has an enlargedhead 38 which is received in the countersunk portion 30. An unthreadedshank portion 40 extends from the head 38 and external threads 42 areprovided on the outer end of the screw. The purpose of the second set ofopenings 28, 32 is to permit positioning of the plate at variouslocations with respect to the holder to provide for a wider range of usefor the fixture.

As will be noted, the corner of the plate adjacent the screw 34 isrounded at 44 to permit pivoting of the plate. The plate issubstantially as thick as the space between the side walls 18, 20whereby there is some frictional contact between the plate and thesurfaces of the walls. Additionally, the diameter of the screw shank 40is approximately equal to the diameter of the openings through which itextends to form a slip fit therewith. This arrangement provides forintimate contact between the moving parts to the end that when the plate26 is pivoted to an adjusted position, the screw 34 may be tightened topress the side walls 18, 2% against the plate to lock the plate in theadjusted position without disturbing the accuracy of the setting. Thecontact between the parts assures that the plate will not shift afterbeing locked and will not shift during the process of tightening thescrew.

The angular relationship relied upon in setting the fix ture at apredetermined angle is the angle which the flat surface 46 of the platemakes with a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spindle12. The pivot axis of the plate 26, defined by the longitudinal axis ofthe screw 34, is parallel to these two planes in order to provide .aconstant point of reference to measure this angle.

A typical arrangement for setting the fixture 10 at the desired angle isillustrated in FIGURE 3. As above mentioned, the angle of interest insetting the fixture is the angle which the plane of the plate surface 46makes with a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spindle12. In FIGURE 3, this angle is designated A. In the arrangement shown,the setup is made on a flat surface 48 of a support structure 50. A sinebar 51 having a base 52 rests on the surface 48. A sine plate 54 ispivotally mounted to the base 52 by hinge structure 56. A cylindricalstructure 58 is provided at the free end of the sine plate to make linecontact with the upper surface of a plurality of stacked size blocks 60.The size blocks 60 are provided in varying thicknesses and are utilizedto raise the cylindrical structure 58 a desired distance from thesurface 62 of the base 52. By simple ri t-angle triangulation, the sineplate 54 is raised to a point where the angle between the surface 64 andsurface 62 equals the desired angle A.

The fixture 10 is mounted in a V-block 66 by means of a clamp 68 havinga bolt 70 to lock the spindle 12 into the V. The clamp 68 has feet 72which engage slots 74 in the side of the V-block. The V-block is set onthe sine plate 54 and held in place by a projection 63. This arrangementorients the longitudinal axis of the spindle 12 at right angles to thesurface 64 of the sine plate. A plane perpendicular to the longitudinalaxis of the spindle as illustrated by the dotted line 76, willconsequently be parallel to the surface 64. If the plate 26 is thenpivoted to a position where the surface 46 is parallel to the surface 62of the sine bar base, as illustrated by the dotted line 78, then theangle formed by the planes represented by lines 76, 78 will be equal tothe angle A. The plate 26 is positioned at this desired angle by use ofa gage structure 80 which comprises a. base member 82 which rests on thesupport surface 48. The base 82 has an upstanding rod 84 whichterminates above the plate 26. A gage 86 is slidably mounted on the rod84 by a bracket 88 having a thumb screw 90 to position the gage indifferent vertically adjusted positions. The gage 86 has a depressiblefeeler finger 92 which is operably connected through mechanism (notshown) to a dial pointer 94 to indicate axial movement of the finger 92.

In operation, the plate 26 is set to a position where the surface 46 isapproximately parallel to the surface 48. The gage structure 80 is thenshifted along the surface 48, with the tip 96 of the finger 92 touchingthe surface 46. If the dial pointer. 94 moves during such shifting, thenthe surface 48 is not parallel to the surface 50. The plate 26 isadjusted until there is no pointer movement upon shifting of the gagestructure. At this point, the desired angular relationship has beenachieved and the screw 34 is tightened to lock the fixture in itsadjusted position.

In addition to setting the fixture for the angle A, a second angle B isalso inherently set. By simple rightangle triangulation, a planeindicated by the dotted line 98 which is perpendicular to the planeindicated by line 78 defines an angle B which is equal to 90 minus theangle A. Angle B may also be used in setting the head of a cuttingmachine.

A typical illustration of the use of the fixture 10 in setting anangularly adjustable work-head of a grinding machine is illustrated inFIGURE 5. In this example, the angle B is used to set the head 100. Thehead 100 has a collet 102 to hold stock to be machined. The head iscapable of pivotal motion defined by the arrow C and straight linemotion defined by the arrow B. The grinding spindle 104 is capable ofmovement indicated by the arrow D. The spindle 104 has a chuck 106 tonormally hold a grinding wheel.

In setting up the grinding machine, the spindle 12 is inserted into thework-head collet 102 which is then tightened to lock the fixture inplace. In the instance shown in FIGURE 5, it is desired to set thelongitudinal axis, indicated by the dotted line 108, of the work-head atthe angle B with respect to a vertical plane defined by the dotted line110. The head 100 is pivoted to a position where the surface 46 isapproximately parallel to the plane 110. A gage structure 112 is mountedby means of rod 114 in the chuck of the spindle 104. The gage structure112 includes a gage 116 which is similar to the previously describedgage 86, having a depressible finger 118 which contacts the surface 46.The head 100 is moved along the path indicated by the arrow B and thehead 100 is adjusted angularly until no change in reading is indicatedon the gage 116. At this point, the work-head 100 is set at the desiredangle B. The head 100 is then locked in place, the fixture and gagestructures removed, whereupon a grinding wheel is mounted on the spindle104 and work stock is mounted on the head 100 and the machiningoperation is performed.

In addition to setting the head of a machine, the fixture 10 may also beutilized to dress a grinding wheel as illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 6. Acutting tool comprising a holder 120 is provided for sliding engagementwith the plate 26. The holder 120 includes spaced apart side walls 122,124 which are joined together by a web 126 having a flat inner face 127.Longitudinally extending 4 grooves 128, 130 are provided at the junctureof the walls 122, 124 with the web 126 to prevent jamming. A cuttingtool 132, which may be a diamond tool, is mounted in the outer surface129 of the wall 126.

The holder 120 is received on the plate 26 with surface 46 of the platein sliding contact with surface 127 whereby sliding of the holder 120along the plate 26 will move the cutting tool 132 in a path defined bythe adjusted angle of the plate. In operation, the fixture 10 is mountedin the work-head as previously described. The fixture has, of course,been previously set to the desired angle A as described in connectionwith FIGURE 3. The head 100 is then set so that its longitudinal axis,defined by dotted line 134, is parallel to the longitudinal axis of thespindle 104, defined by the dotted line 136. Setting of the head 100 isdone by conventional means, although if desired, the fixture 10 may beused for this purpose and then reset to the angle A for the dressingoperation. The grinding wheel 138 is then mounted in the spindle 104 andthe head 100 is moved forward until the cutting tool 132 makes contactwith the grinding wheel. The holder is then moved back and forth on theplate 26 to take an angular cut on the wheel 138. The head 100 isadvanced after each out until the desired amount of material has beenremoved from the wheel. As will be appreciated, the angle which is cuton the periphery of the wheel will be equal to the angle A.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An aligning fixture comprising a spindle securable to an angularlyadjustable head of a cutting machine; a holder on the spindle includinga bottom wall carried on one end of the spindle; a pair of substantiallyparallel spaced apart side walls extending outwardly from one surface ofthe bottom wall; a plate received between the side walls and pivotallysecured thereto; said plate having a flat surface; the pivot axis ofsaid plate being parallel with a plane perpendicular to the longitudinalaxis of said spindle and parallel with said flat surface; and means topress the side walls of the holder together to lock said plate in aposition with its flat surface in a selected angularly adjusted positionwith respect to a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of thespindle.

2. An aligning fixture comprising a spindle securable to an angularlyadjustable head of a cutting machine; a holder on the spindle includinga bottom wall carried on one end of the spindle; a pair of substantiallyparallel spaced apart side walls extending outwardly from one surface ofthe bottom wall; a plate received between the side walls; said sidewalls and plate each having an opening; said openings being in registrywith one another; a pivot pin comprising a shank having an enlarged headat one end and a threaded portion at the opposite end; said pin beinginserted through said openings to pivotally secure the plate to theholder; said plate having a flat surface; the pivot axis of said platebeing parallel with a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis ofsaid spindle and parallel with said flat surface; and a nut structurethreadingly engaged with the pivot pin and operable upon being threadedonto the pin to press the side walls of the holder together to lock saidplate in a position with its flat surface in a selected angularlyadjusted position with respect to a plane perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the spindle.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 and further characterized in that oneof said side wall openings is internally threaded forming the nutstructure for threading engagement with the threaded portion of thepivot pin.

4. A device as claimed in claim 2 and further characterized in theprovision of a plurality of sets of registering openings in the holderside walls whereby the plate may be positioned at different locations onthe holder.

5. A device as claimed in claim 2 and further characterized in that thediameter of the unthreaded shank portion of the pivot pin issubstantially equal to the diameter of the openings in the holder sidewalls and plate thereby forming a slip fit with said elements.

6. A device as claimed in claim 2 and further characterized in that thespindle is cylindrical.

7. A device as clairned in claim 2 and further characterized in that theplate is of sufiicient thickness to simultaneously contact the innersurfaces of the holder side walls forming a slip fit therewithv 8. Afixture comprising a spindle securable to the workhead of a grindingmachine; a holder on the spindle; an angularly adjustable memberpivotally mounted on the holder; said angularly adjustable member havinga flat surface; means to lock the angularly adjustable member in aselected position with respect to a plane perpendicular to thelongitudinal axis of the spindle; a cutting tool slidably mountable onthe angularly adjustable member; said cutting tool comprising a pair ofsubstantially 15 parallel spaced apart side Walls joined together by aWeb having a substantially flat inner surface; said Web having a cuttingelement secured to its exterior surface; said cutting tool beingreceived on said angularly adjustable member with said side walls or"the cutting tool extending around the angularly adjustable member andthe flat inner surface of the Web in sliding contact With the fiatsurface of the angularly adjustable member whereby the cutting tool maybe moved along said angularly adjustable member in a path defined by theadjusted position of the angularly adjusted member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,293,108 Brebeck Aug. 18; 1942 2,378,743 Wisne June 19, 1945 2,733,702Barrett Feb. 7, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 243,375 Switzerland Jan. 3, 1947

8. A FIXTURE COMPRISING A SPINDLE SECURABLE TO THE WORKHEAD OF AGRINDING MACHINE; A HOLDER ON THE SPINDLE; AN ANGULARLY ADJUSTABLEMEMBER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON THE HOLDER; SAID ANGULARLY ADJUSTABLE MEMBERHAVING A FLAT SURFACE; MEANS TO LOCK THE ANGULARLY ADJUSTABLE MEMBER INA SELECTED POSITION WITH RESPECT TO A PLANE PERPENDICULAR TO THELONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE SPINDLE; A CUTTING TOOL SLIDABLY MOUNTABLE ONTHE ANGULARLY ADJUSTABLE MEMBER; SAID CUTTING TOOL COMPRISING A PAIR OFSUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL SPACED APART SIDE WALLS JOINED TOGETHER BY A WEBHAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT INNER SURFACE; SAID WEB HAVING A CUTTINGELEMENT SECURED TO ITS EXTERIOR SURFACE; SAID CUTTING TOOL BEINGRECEIVED ON SAID ANGULARLY ADJUSTABLE MEMBER WITH SAID SIDE WALLS OF THECUTTING TOOL EXTENDING AROUND THE ANGULARLY ADJUSTABLE MEMBER AND THEFLAT INNER SURFACE OF THE WEB IN SLIDING CONTACT WITH THE FLAT SURFACEOF THE ANGULARLY ADJUSTABLE MEMBER WHEREBY THE CUTTING TOOL MAY BE MOVEDALONG SAID ANGULARLY ADJUSTABLE MEMBER IN A PATH DEFINED BY THE ADJUSTEDPOSITION OF THE ANGULARLY ADJUSTED MEMBER.